Gyroscopic controlled firing mechanism for ships  guns



6 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. OBEY.

Patented Dec. 21,1897.

(No Model.)

GYROSOOPIG CONTROLLED FIRING MEGHANISM FOR SHIPS GUNS.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. OBRY. GYROSOOPIG CONTROLLED FIRING MECHANISM FOR SHIPS GUNS.

No. 595,820. Patented Dec. 21,1897.

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 3. L. OBRY.

GYROSGOPIC CONTROLLED FIRING MECHANISM FOR SHIPS" GUNS. No. 595,820.Patented Dec. 21,1891

MILK v m 1 1mm (No Model.) I 6 Sheets8heet 4.

L. OBRY. GYROSGOPIG CONTROLLED FIRING MECHANISM FOR SHIPS GUNS.

No. 595,820. Patented Dec. 21, 1897.

(No Model.) 7 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 L. OBEY. GYROSGOPIG CONTROLLED FIRINGMECHANISM FOR SHIPS GUNS.

Patented De0.21, 1897.

m: Noams PETERS my pnorouma, wnsmunrou. o. c

(No Modell) e SheetsSheet 6.

L. OBEY. GYROSGOPIG CONTROLLED FIRING MECHANISM FOR SHIPS GUNS.

No. 595,820. Patented Dec. 21, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUDWIG OBRY, OF POLA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

GYROSCOPlC-CONTROLLED FIRING MECHANISM FOR SHIPS GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,820, dated December21, 1897.

Application filed September 28, 1895. Serial No. 564,044. (No model.)Patented in Austria. May 1, 1895, No. Mi/2,629; in

Hungary June 7,1895,No. 5,579; in France July 6,1895, No. 248,723; inItaly July13, 1895, LXXVII, 112,- in England July 13, 1895,1T0. 13,496,and in Germany August 13, 1895,11'0. 86,586.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDWIG OBRY, a subject of the Austrian Emperor, anda resident of Pola, in the Empire of Austria-Hungary, have inventedcertain new and useful Improved Means for Discharging Ships Guns, (whichhave been patented to me in the following foreign countries:Austria,May1,1895, tomus 45, folio 2,629; Hungary, June 7, 1895, No.5,579; Germany, August 13, 1895, No. 86,586;France,July6,1S95,No.24=8,723; Italy, July 13, 1895, folio LXXVII, No.112, and England, July 13, 1895, No. 13,496,) of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the present invention is to render the flight ofprojectiles discharged from ships guns independent of the rolling orlurching motion of the vessel, and this object is attained by means of adevice adapted to discharge the gun at the exact moment when one or boththe main axes of the ship are in a horizontal position.

According to the present invention the apparatus consists in a suspendedgyroscopelike mechanism, having its axis of rotation coincident with avertical line passing through the center of gravity of the apparatus,the motion of the gyroscope relatively to the vessel being transmittedto a switch device arranged in the electric conductors, serving todischarge the gun, in such wise as to close the circuit through thedischarge-conductors at the precise moment when the axis of thegyroscope passes the position of rest relatively to one or both of themain axes of the vessel.

The invention is based on the gyroscopic principle-viz., on theprinciple that a rapidly-rotating body will retain its plane of rotationif independently suspended in spite of the movement of the frame inwhich such body may be suspended. In the apparatuses of the kindhitherto known the contact has been formed at the point when the shipwas supposed to be in a horizontal position by means of a swingingpendulum, or, in other words, by gravity. A pendulum or gravitationdevice is, however, not sufficient to produce the desired result,because such instrument is liable to swing, and consequently in order toproduce a really effective means the horizontal position of one of thecontacting bodies must not only be possible but must be assured. Thiscan only be effected bymeans of a gyroscope, owing to the property ofthe rapidly-rotating body to retain its plane of rotation.

One form of carrying out the present invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in whichsimilar letters of reference denote similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, showing the external andinternal casings in section; Fig. 2, a plan of the apparatus with theupper part of the casing removed Fig. 3, a side elevation seen from thelefthand side of Fig. 1, the external casing being removed and theinternal one shown in section Fig. 4, a part side elevation of themechanism of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a side elevation, seen from the right ofFig. 1, of the whole apparatus; Fig. 6, a part front elevation of theapparatus, the outer casing being partly removed. Figs. 7 and 8 showdetail views of the switch device in two positions. Fig. 9 is a sectionof the dynamo serving to drive the gyroscope. Figs. 10 and 11 arediagrams hereinafter referred to, and Figs. 12 and 13 are two views of aslightly-modified form of carrying out the invention.

The apparatus as illustrated is arranged j within a spherical casingconsisting of two parts M M advantageously screwed together and mountedon a base-plate in the manner well known in the art of making physicaland mathematical instruments. A metal ring'A, Fig. 2, is mounted withinthis casing on two diametrically opposite pivots a a, said ring Ahaving, further, two pivots thereon extending inwardly and arrangeddiametrically opposite each otheron a line cutting the line of the pivots a a at right angles in the same plane, .on which said pivots a a issuspended, by means of its pole-plates b b, a small dynamo having itscenter of gravity lying below the line of suspension.

b b and above the electromagnet Bis a bridgepiece 1), serving as theupper bearing for the Extending between the pole-platesv motor-shaft bprovided with a boring b for lubricating purposes and carrying thecollector B in the usual manner, and at its upper end 19 the fly-wheelV. (See also Fig. 9.) The distribution of weight, as also the wholeconstruction of the dynamo and fly-wheel, are such as to bring thecenter of gravity of the whole below the line of suspension 0, a andwithin the axis of symmetry of the dynamo, so that the armature-shaft bwill under the action of gravity retain a vertical position.

A bow C is pivotally mounted within the casing M M at c c, Fig. 1, saidhow being suspended at points diametrically opposite each other and atright angles in the same plane to the line of suspension at a of saidring A. The bow C is provided with a slot 0 in which a pin 6 attached tothe lower part of the dynamo, engages, so that any oscillation of thedynamo in a direction transverse to the line of suspension of the bow Cwill be communicated to the said bow, While an oscillation of the dynamoin a direction parallel to the line of suspension of the bow will haveno eifect upon the latter, the pin a simply moving in the slot 0 of thehow. The bowpivots c c extend through the casing M, and one of the same,0, carries a pointer R outside the said casing, said pointer moving overa graduated arc R fixed to the exterior of the casing. In a similarmanner one of the pivots a, carrying the ring A, extends outside thecasing M M, Fig. 3, and has mounted on its projecting end a pointer S,moving, as may be seen at Fig. 6, on an arc S properly graduated, andalso fixed to the exterior of the casing M M.

If now the apparatus hitherto described is mounted on board a vesselwith the. suspension-line c 0' parallel to the longitudinal axis of thesaid vessel, and presuming that the armature-shaft b preserves itsvertical position, then the pointerR will show the amplitude of theangle of oscillation at each roll of the ship, while the pointer S willregister on its scale the angle of oscillation of the pitch of thevessel.

As previously explained, the shaft 5 will retain its vertical positionon account of the distribution of weight and its Cardanic suspension, asalso by the aid of the rapid rotation of the fly-wheel. The arrangementof the conductors for driving the dynamo will now be described.

The dynamo is driven from a sourceof electricity independent of theapparatus, the conductors of said source being attached to thecontact-screws I and II, Figs. 2 and 5. A shaft (1 extends through asuitable sleeve in the inner casing M M and carries at its outer end aswitch-lever D, having at its inner end a drum (1, of vulcanite. orother suitable nonconducting material, provided with aconducting-surface extending over about two hundred degrees of itscircumference, consisting of a metal strip or the like. At two points ofthis drum diametrically opposite to each other contact-springs d d arearranged to bear, Figs. 1 and i, said springs being mounted on aninsulated block d, attached to the lower half of the casing M M. Theclamping-screws I and II, contacting with the springs (1 61 areconnected up in the following manner: II is connected to the outsideclamp II, Figs. 2 and 5, while from the clamp I and the outside clamp Iconductors extend along the interior wall of the casing nearly as far asthe pivots of the ring A and from this point in the form ofeasilyflexible spirals or through a boring of the trunnions of the saidring to the lower edge of the same and along this edge to the pivot a ofthe dynamo and either through a boring of the latter or by means of aflexible spiral to the collector-clamps in the manner well known.

From this description it will be evident that if the switch-lever D isin the position shown in Fig. 4, in which position both contact-springsdd arein communication with the conducting part 61 of the drum (1, thecircuit will be closed to the motort'. e., dynamowhile in the positionof the parts as shown at Fig. 5 only one of the springs 61 rests on theconducting part of the drum, and the circuit is consequently broken.

When the circuit is broken and the apparatus at rest, it is advisable toprevent the parts from unnecessary swinging in order to save wear andtear of the pivotal connections, to which end the lever D is providedwith arresting-arms which. come into operation immediately the circuithas been broken. The arresting-arms f and f are rigidly attached to theinner end of the spindle d by means of the boss F. Of these two arms theone f is specially formed to bear with its surfaces f f against thecorrespondingsurfaces of the how 0 above and below its pivot, Fig. 4,and thus prevent the same from vibrating, while the arm f, the form ofwhich may be seen from Figs. 2 and 4, engages the ring A with itssurfaces f at each side of one of its pivots, as

shown indotted lines in Fig. 2, and prevents the same from moving on itspivots. As soon as the lever D of the switch is thrown over to break thecircuit all the parts are arrested in the manner described.

I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the apparatushereinbefore described is connected up to the electric conductorsserving to discharge the gun and in which the contact devices act so asto close the circuit exactly at the proper moment- 'i. a, when one orboth of the main axes of the vessel are in the horizontal plane. Themechanisms serving to effect this object are arranged below the pivotsof the ring A and how 0 and are both substantially of the sameconstruction, so that itwill suffice to describe the arrangement of oneonly. Figs. 7 and 8 show these mechanisms R and S in two positions. Theblock 0 or s is of non-conducting material and is attached to the insideof the casing below the spindle c of the pointer R, said block r 3 beingbifurcated at its upper part at r r 8 the shanks of said bifurcationbeing slightly adjustable with regard to each other by means of aset-screw r .9 having conical end and projecting through thecasing-wall. By adjusting the position of this screw it will be obviousthat the distance apart of the upper ends of the shanks r 1" may beslightly varied. Hinged at their lower ends to the block W are twocontactsprings 1", having their upper ends bent inward toward each otherafter the manner of calipers. These contact springs are normally held inthe position shown in Fig. 7 by means of light springs arranged on theblock r and bearing against projections of the said springsrespectively. The lower part of the contact-springs r is bulged out toembrace (without, however, contacting with) the pivot c of the bow C.Extending upwardly between the top points of the springs r r is avertical tongue 1", fixed on the pivot c and adapted to rock therewithwhen the bow O swings. This tongue will push the contactsprings inrocking and swing them on their pivots alternately, as shown at Fig. 8.If the apparatus is arranged in a circuit, conductors of which areattached at III IV, Fig. 2, and extend from here to the clamping-screwsof the contact-springs r r, it will be obvious that such circuit will beclosed at the moment when the tongue 1' is exactly at its verticalposition and closes the circuit by contacting with both the springs rr.When the tongue r is at its vertical position, the amplitude of theangle of oscillation caused by the roll of the vessel is equal to 0.

Presuming the device R to be switched in the circuit of an electriccurrent for discharging guns, so that, as shown in the diagram Fig. 10,the source of electricity Q and circuit-breaker R are connected up inseries and the firing-pins of the respective guns, as also the switchbelonging to each gun, parallelly, it will then be obvious that eachdischarge will take place after the switch z has been closed exactly atthat moment in which the tongue 1' passes its position of rest withregard to the transverse axis of the ship, or, as above stated, when theamplitude of oscillation caused by the rolling of the vesselis equal toO. The apparatus S will if connected up in similar manner by means ofthe clamps V VI, Fig. 2, have the same effect upon guns having theirlongitudinal axis parallel or nearly parallel to the longitudinal axisof the vessel as the apparatus R has upon broadside guns.

In the case of the heavier kinds of guns, such as turret-guns, it isoften advisable to discharge the gun, according to its position at thetime, either when the longitudinal or transverse axis of the vessel isin the horizontal plane or when both are simultaneously in this plane.In this case both apparatuses R and S must be switched in thedischargingcircnit, as shown in the diagram of Fig. 11. From thisdiagram it will be seen that a'single apparatus of the kind described issufficient to work all the guns of a ship. In this diagram the group ofguns 1 is supposed to consist, mainly, of broadside guns and is workedby the apparatus R alone, the group 2,consisting, mainly,of bow andstern chasers, is worked by the apparatus S alone, while the group 3,consisting, mainly, of turret-guns, may be worked by the apparatuses Rand S in cooperation when the switches R and S of both apparatuses R andS are open or by one or other only of these apparatuses when one orother of the switches is closed. Having due regard to the slow-burningcapacity of gunpowder, it may appear desirable to ignite the charge afraction of a second before the vessel has attained a horizontalposition, for

which purpose the conical adj usting-screw r 8 previously described,hasbeen arranged. By slightly withdrawing this screw the upper ends ofthe contact-springs r -r or s 3 may be advanced toward each other sothat the point of the spring which may be at rest shall extend slightlyover the vertical line w m, Fig. 8, or normal horizontal position of thetongue 1". Thus on the return of the said tongue the circuit will beclosed slightly before the ship has reached its horizontal position.Since the distance which the point of the spring extends over thevertical line so 00 may be regulated within certain limits by means ofthe screw r 3 it will be evident that the apparatus may be adjusted withgreat accuracy to discharge a gun a certain desired-time before theships axis attains its horizontal position.

Figs. 12 and 13 show merelya modified form of the fiy-wheel or gyratorymass V, which needs no further explanation, being clearly intelligiblefrom the drawings.

In conclusion I will now recapitulate the manner of erecting andoperating the apparatus.

The apparatus is erected on board with the pivots c 0 parallel torthelongitudinal axis of the ship, the clamps I and II are connected up tothe current-generator clamps III, IV, V, and VI, in the manner shown inFigs. 10 and 11, with the discharging or ignition circuit. When theswitch-lever D is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, thegyroscope is in a position of rest and the swinging parts of theapparatus are arrested, as specified. On turning the switch-lever toallow a current to pass into the apparatus the dynamo will be setrunning at a high speed. This speed is of course dependent on the powerof the current fed to the dynamo, but one thousand to fifteen hundredrevolutions will be quite sufficient to insure the proper operation ofthe apparatus. The gyroscope may consist of the armature 13 togetherwith the fly-wheel V or of the armature alone. The pointers R and Swillshow the amplitude of angle of oscillation caused by rolling andpitching of the ship, and if any well-known registering apparatus iscombined with these pointers the maximal and minimal roll or pitch maybesimultaneously registered. Thus the gyroscope V will retain itshorizontal plane of rotation in spite of the movements of the vessel andcontact can only be made when the latter is in either one or other, orboth, of its horizontal (longitudinal or transverse) aXes-that is tosay, the operation of the present device is not only dependent ongravity, as heretofore, but the action of gravity is, so to say,controlled by the property of the gyroscope.

I claim as my invention-'- 1. An apparatus for automatically dischargingships guns when one or both of the main axes of the ship are in ahorizontal position, consisting of a gyroscope mounted so as to be freetoretain its position irrespective of the movements of the ship, acontacting device in the igniting-circuit to the guns and means forutilizing the relative motion of the ship and gyroscope to operate thesaid contacting device so as to make contact when the vessel is in ahorizontal position in the manner and for the purpose substantially asdescribed and shown.

2. The combination of a gyroscope, mounted so as to be free to retainits position irrespective of the movement of the ship, a contactingdevice in the igniting-circuit to the guns, and means for utilizing therelative motion of the ship and gyroscope to operate the said contactingdevice when one of the main axes of the vessel is in a horizontalposition substantially as described.

3. The combination of a gyroscope having a shaft 12 a dynamo todrive-said shaft, suspended in cardanic rings and having its armature bkeyed to the gyroscope-shat t, a contacting device in theignition-circuit to the guns and means for utilizing the relative motionof the ship and gyroscope to operate said contacting devicesubstantially as described.

4. The combination of a gyroscope having a shaft 19 a dynamo to drivesaid shaft having pole-plates b b, a ring A to support said dynamo bymeans of diametrically opposite pivots a a, exterior diametricallyopposite pivots a a to said ring arranged at right angles in the sameplane to the pivots a a a casing to support said pivots a a which arefast on the said ring A a contacting device in the ignition-circuit tothe guns and means for operating said contacting device to close thecircuit at the moment specified, from the pivot a substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination of a gyroscope, a dynamo to drive same, a ring A tosupport said dynamo as specified, pivots a a fast on said ring and acasing M M to support said pivots, abow 0 supported on pivots c c insaid casing and having its line of suspension parallel to that ofsuspension of the dynamo a slot 0 in said ring and a pin at the lowerpart i of the dynamo to engage said slot in the manner and for thepurpose substantially as. described.

6. The combination of a gyroscope and a dynamo to drive same, a ring Aand means for supporting said dynamo in said ring as specified, pivotsfast on said ring and a casing M M to support said ring-pivots, a bow Omounted as specified 'on pivots fast on the same, and a contactingdevice R and Soperated respectively by the said pivots c and a andsuitable connections between said contacting devices and theigniting-circuit of the guns substantially as described.

7. The combination of a gyroscope and a dynamo mounted as specified anda stationary casing to contain same, a contacting device to admitcurrent to the dynamo consisting of a spindle d penetrating the casingbelow the bow-pivot, a drum d on the interior end of said spindle havingcontacting surface, contact-springs d d an insulated block (1 to supportsame and means for turning the spindle d to break contact between thetwo said springs substantially as described.

8. The combination of a gyroscope and a dynamo suspended within suitablecasing as specified, a spindle (1 having drum d, with contact-surface dcontact-springs 61 (Z to touch ,said drum, and vmeans in connection withsaid spindle to arrest the motion of the suspended parts when thecontact between the said springs is broken substantially as described.

9. The combination of' a gyroscope and a dynamo to operate same andmeans for suspending the parts as specified, a spindle (Zhavingcontacting device d d d d, a lever f fast on said spindle to engageunder the suspension-ring A having arm f with surfaces f to contact withthe sides of the bow 0 above and below its pivot and arrest samesubstantially as described.

10. The combination of a gyroscope and a dynamo to drive same and meansfor suspending said gyroscope so that the same may be free to moveirrespective of the movements of the ship a contact device connectedwith one of the pivots of said suspending mechanism and consisting oftwo contact-springs?" r bent inwardly at their upper ends and pivoted toa stationary support r at their lower ends, said springs being bulgedout at about or below their middle to embrace the said pivot and atongue on said pivot extending upwardly between said springs and adaptedto operate the same in the manner and for the purpose substantially asdescribed.

11. The combination of a gyroscope and a dynamo to drive same said partsbeing suspended in a stationary casing as specified and a contactingdevice in connection with said suspension mechanism and operated by oneof the pivots thereof consisting of the pivoted contact-springs r rspring-pressed toward each other, a tongue 1" on the pivot of the bow 0extending upwardly between said springs,

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said springs being adapted to bear at their lower parts against abifurcated upward extension of the support-block, a conical boringthrough said bifurcated part and a screw having conical end to extendinto said boring and adjustable from the outside of the casingsubstantially as described.

12. The combination of a gyroscope and a dynamo to drive same, means forsuspending the parts in suitable casing as specified, a contactingdevice R operated by one of the pivots of the said suspension means, andmeans for connecting up the said contacting device and the source ofelectricity of the ignitingcircuit in series, and the firing-pins of theguns parallelly substantially as described.

13. The combination of a gyroscope and a dynamo a ring A to support samein suspension as specified pivots to said ring a contacting device Soperated from one of said pivots, and means for connecting up the saidcontacting device together with the source of electricity of theigniting-circuit of the guns in the said circuit in series and thefiring-pins of the several guns parallelly substantially as described.

14. In combination with a gyroscope and a battery and means forsuspending the same as specified contacting devices R and S operatedfrom the suspension means of the said parts and means for connecting upboth apparatuses with the source of electricity in the circuit fordischarging the guns in series and at both sides of the said source ofelectricity and means for connecting up the firing-circuits parallellyin the manner and for the purpose substantially 'as described and shown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses;

LUDWIG OBRY.

' Witnesses:

FRANCESCO BUT'I'IRA, NICALO GIACOMELOFF.

